Safety cranking device for explosive-engines.



Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

AV VENTOR, T707115 Z. Bea/2:,

A TTORNEYL J. L. BECK.

SAFETY ORANKING DEVIGE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED NOVA. 1910. RENEWED AUG. 16, 1911.

1,046,947. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

J 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES; INVENTOR,

' in the forwar sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

'J'QHN Ii. seen, or. SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, Assrerion, BY nEsNE Assr'enunnrs, 'ro Auro SAFETY CRANK COMPANY, or HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, A on- A ronA'rIoN or mAssACHUsnr'rs.

.s rn'rYjCBANKme DEVICE FOR rzrzrnosrvn-nnenims.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, JOHN L. BECK, a citiz en bfthe United States of America, and resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Safety Cranking Devices for EX- plosive-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in the starting or cranking mechanism for ex-' plosive gas engines, 'of a kind in which is assured a separation of the crank from the engine shaft when the] speed ofthe latter, as occasioned b the running of the engine direction, becdmes greater than the manually imparted revolution of the crank.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for the separation of the crank from the engine shaft in case the engine acquires a backward running motion by reason of any improper conditions accidental on the art of the operator or beyond his power ofc'ontrol so'that the possibility of injury to the operator in case of a back-kick is, with certainty, guarded against.

Another object is to provide a safety cranking device so designed and constructed as not to interfere with the bearings of the crank and in which the several members by simple and cheaply constructed parts are reliably retained in their coacting relations.

And another object, which is of considerable importance, is to so construct and organize the device that the hub of the crank forms a casing to conceal and protect the principal operative parts, the crank and safety device having the external aspect of the most ordinary form of simple crank. I

The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanyin drawings. and set forth in the claims; an in said drawings Figure '1 is a sectional side elevation taken on theline 1'1, Fig. 6.- Fi 2 is a side ele vation in partial sections owing the external proportions of the crank and its attachment to the frame of. the car together Fig. 3 is a plan sectional view-of the safety -mechanism portion of thecra-nk taken .on

the line 3-43, Fig. 6. Fig. l is a sectional end-elevation taken on the line 4- 4c, Fig.

3, showing the driving ratchet .Fig. is a transverse sectional v ew taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 .is atransverse sec-.

tional view taken on the line 6-6, Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view take'non'the'line- 5, and as seen in the direction of the arrow I :'ad o1n1ng the section line. Fig. 9 is a dismembered perspective -,view showing the arts of the mechanism in proper assemling position relative to each. other.

In the drawings, 1 represents the crank to which is secured thehandle 2, and in the oppositely disposed hub end-Q3 is mounted a cranking shaft 4f'which'has its bearing or support rigidly securedto" the frame 6. Mounted on theshaft 4 is a spring 7 which by an inward ressure of the hand lever 1' engages the loo ing ratchet 8 with the similar locking ratchet 9 mountedon the end of the engine shaft; 10 in. the usual. manner. In the bearing 5 is provided a recessed portion 11 sufficient to receive the enlarged por- ,jtion of the shaft 4 when it becomes necessary. to crank the engine. Securely mounted :on the frame 6 is a bracket 12 whichhas provided therein an'opening 13 which re- ;ceives a portion of. the dowel 14, the other. end of which issecurely fixed to a collar 15,

the member 14 having sliding engagement through the opening 13 at such times as it becomes necessary to start the engine. Rigidly mounted on the cranking shaft 4 is a flange like portion thereof, and secured by the keys'16 is a member 17, having on'its face cam shaped or ratchet like teeth and securely attached within the hub 3 of the crank lever by the locking screws 17' engaging in a-cut away portion 18 is a collar 19 provided, parallel with its axis, with several regularly spaced cylindrical'openings 20 which. have mounted therein the locking dogs 21 held in a normally outward distended position by the springs 22 against the ratchet: 17. Mounted on the shaft 4 and disposed face ratchet 23 'on the face of which Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 10, 1912,. Application filed November 4, 1910, Serial No. 590,687. -Renewed August 16,. 1911. Serial 1102644352.

isprovided several cam shaped teeth 24 ex- 4 tending in a direction toward the collar 19.

Between the teeth 24 are provided an equal number of cam shaped indentations 25. The annular ratchet faced member 28 is held in frictional relation to the shaft 4 by the intervention of a conically formed ring 26 provided with a cleft 27 and driven by the shaft 4 by the engagement of'a locking pin 28 placed in an opening 29 in the shaft and held in an outwardly distended relation thereto by the spring30 The member 23 .of the member 23 which is of still furthel reduced diameter is screw threaded and protrudes parallel with the axis of the-device through and beyond the bushing-40 of the collaror yoke like part 15 and receives the spanner nut 39 which in the assemblage of the parts is set up against. the face of the collar or yoke. And it is to be perceived by reference to the sectional view, Fig. 1, that the construction and assemblage of the parts are suchthat the distance between the cam provided faces of the members 23 and 17 are constantly maintained. Within the periphery of the diametrically reduced .end

ortion 32 of the amiular member 23 are ormed a plurality of pockets 34 having tangential bases to receive the rollers 35 which are normally located in the larger ends of the pockets 34, and have associated therewith the spiral springs 36 which for the greater portion of their lengths are inclosed in the drilled holes or pockets 37. The collar or yoke 15 having a hardened bushing 40 held therein by the keys o r lock ing pins 41 surrounds the" tangentially .re' cessed part of the annular member 23 and makes in cooperation with the pawl rollers 35 in the recessed part 32 a silent pawl and ratchet. The necked down and externally screw threaded end portion 38 of the annular member 23 which protrudes through the collar or yoke 15 receives the ring nut 39 thereon. W i 1 Referring to Figs. 6 and 8, it will be seen that the collar 19 is provided with a singledog 42 held in an outwardly distended relation toward the cam faced ratchet teeth of the part 23 by the spring 43 and for engagement with some one of the indentations 25 which have the shape of ratchet teeth with abrupt shoulders at one end, and which serve to place, when the crank is initially revolved, the cam shaped ratchet teeth 24 in rectified opposition to the oppositely facing tact?) on the part 17 carried by the cranking s a Referringto Fig. 3 it will be seen that by a movement of the crank hub 3 in the direction of the arrow 45 the collar 19 is caused to revolve aboutthc shaft 4 in the direction of the arrow 45 through the driving screws 17, with the result that the driving dogs 21 are forced away from the cam 17; but as the cam shaped projections 24 of the face cam 23 are so positioned relative to the locking dog 21 that the opposite end of the lockingdog 21 impinges against the same and prevents a lateral displacement of such dog,

the face cams 23- and 17 whereby it becomes impossible for the driven member, namely the collar 19, to pass beyond a locked position as illustrated. in Fig. 3, at which time the crank causes the cam 17 to drive the shaft 4 and its ratchet 8 engaged in the lock- :ing ratchet 9 against the compression of the engine, thereby starting the motor. At the moment the speed of the motor increases beyond the speed of the crank, the same will disengage itself therefrom by disengaging the two ratchets 8 and 9 in the usual man- .ner; and the shaft 4 will be thrust outward away from the same by the aid of the spring 7.

In the event of a back fire of the engine the engine shaft 10 becomes the driver together'the shaft 4 will be revolved in the opposite direction from which the engine would normally run, and on account of the lnecessary'shape of the ratchets 8 and 9 the shaft 4 becomes the driver in the direction ;of the dotted arrow 48 which causes the ratchet 17 to be driven in the direction of 'the dotted arrow 49. Coincident'with the kick back of the engine the frictional cone 26 causes the face cam 23 to be revolved in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow 50, Fig. 7, which by the peripheral contact on the rollersthrusts such rollers into an impinging or wedging position relative to thecollar 40, maintaining the face 'cam 23 in a stationary position relative to the circular collar portion 15 which is held against backward rotation by the pin 14.-

It will be understood, therefore, that the face cam 23 is capable of revolving in one direction only, namely, that in which the engine is'running; and as the cam 17, keyed to the shaft 4, is now revolving in the direction of the arrow 49, Fig. 8, the existing relation of parts 17 and 23 is destroyed and the backward rotation of the cam 17 thrusts the locking dog 21 toward the face cam 23, and

andbecausetheratchets 8 and 9 are locked when the cam shaped extensions 24 are line 23, indicated on Fig. 3, are separated by a distance. indicated by the-witness lines a, so thatthe members 17 and 23 have siich relations relatively .to the lengths.

of the dogs 21 that the difference-between the points of the cam like projections 01' teeth on one member and thebase of such teeth on the other member' is greater than the length of the dog, while the distance bet-Ween'the salient points of the cam shaped teeth of both members is less than the length of the dogs, and thus, on the backward turning of the cranking shaft caused by a kick back. of the engine there is, with certainty, a release of all connection between the cranking shaft and the crank. Therefore, the operatormay retain the cranking handle in his handwith perfect safety and with only such force of grasp as to resist the frictional engagement between certain of the )arts. 1 Due acknowledgment is herein made of subject matter. described and claimed in a co-pending application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me under-date of Feb. '24, '1911, Serial No. 615,676.

I claim I r 1: In a safety cranking device for explosive engines, in combination, a cranking shaft having a fixed flange like member provided on its face with a series of cam shaped.-

teeth, an annular member encircling and in frictional engagement with the cranking shaft and revoluble forwardly therewith, and having a set of cam shaped teeth in opposition to and facing those of the shaft carried member, means for preventing a backward rotation of such annular member, and a crank having at its hub an internal collar located between and with its opposite faces in proximity to the aforementionedcam toothed members provided with a series of dogs mounted and endwise movable therein, and parallel with the axis thereof, which have their opposite ends protruding therefrom for coaction with the cam shaped teeth of the aforesaid opposite members.

1 2. In a safety cranking device for explosive engines, in combination, a cranking shaft having a fixed flange like member provided on its face with a series of cam shaped teeth, an annular member encircling and in frictional engagement with the cranking shaft and revoluble forwardly, therewith, and having a set of cam shaped teeth in opposition to and facing those of. the shaft carried member, means for preventing a backward rotation-of such annular member, a crank havingat its hub an internal collar .locatedbetween and with its opposite faces in proximity to the aforementioned cam toothed members provided with a series of dogs'mou-nted and endwise movable therein, and parallel with the axis thereof, which have their opposite ends protruding there from for co-action with the cam shaped teeth shaped teeth in ?opposition to and facing those of the shaft carried member, a nonrotative ring encircling said annular member and relatively to which the latter may rotate freely in a forward direction, and

means for preventing 'a rotation of such member backwardly relatively to said ring, and a crank having at its hub an internal collar located bet-ween and with its opposite faces in proximity to the aforementioned cam toothed "members having a series of dogsmounted and endwise movable therein,

and parallel with the axis thereof, having their opposite endsprotruding therefrom for, coaction with the cam shaped teeth of the aforesaid-opposite members.

4. In a safety cranking device, in combination, Y a cranking shaft having a fixed flange like part provided on its face with a series of cam shaped teeth, an annular member encircling and in frictional engagement with the cranlrrling shaft having a set of cam shaped'teet" in opposition to and facing those of the shaft carried member, a

non-rotati've ring encircling said annular member and relatively to which the latter may rotate freely in a forward direction, and means for preventing a rotation of such member backwardly relatively to said ring, a crank having at its hub an internal collar located between and with its opposite faces in proximity to the aforementioned cam toothed members having a series of dogs mounted and endwise movable therein, and parallel with the axis thereof, having their opposite ends protruding therefrom for 00- action with the cam shaped teeth of the aforesaid opposite members, and means for "securing on the initial revoluble movement of the crank the positioning of the cam shaped teeth of both sets inopposition with each other.

5; In a safety cranking device for explo-' sive engines, in combination, a cranking I shaft having a; fixed-flange like member provided on its face with a series of cam shaped teeth, an annular member encircling and-in 'and havin frictional engagement with the. cranking shaft and" revoluble forwardly therewith,

carried member,- and also having at'its face a ratchet like formation, neans'for preventing a backward. rotation of such annular member, and a crank having at its hub an internal collar located between and with its opposite faces in proximity to the aforementioned cam toothed .members provided with a series of dogs mounted and endwise movable therein, and parallel with the axis thereof, Whichhave their opposite ends pro- 15 truding therefrom-for coaction with the cam shaped teeth of the aforesaid opposite mem-''.

bers, and also provided "with .a sprin' pressed pawl for engagement with the ratchet formed-- member.

6. In a-safety cranking device, in combination, a cranking ishaft having a fixed flange like member "provided onits'face with a series of cam shaped teeth, an annular mem- I ber encircling and in frictionalengagement with the cranking shaft and revoluble forwardly therewith, and having a set of cam shaped teeth in opposition to and facing those of the shaft'carried member, means for preventing a backward rotation of such annularv member, a crank provided with a hollow hub, and provided with aninte'rnal collar located between, and with its: oppo. site facesin proximity to, the aforemem tioned cam toothed members, provided'with a series of dogs mounted and endwis'e movable therein, and parallel with the axis thereof, which have their opposite ends, protrading therefrom for coaction with the cam shaped teeth of the aforesaid opposite mem-'' bers, the hub of the crank inclosing, and.

. ing a set of cam shaped teeth in opposition to and facing those of the shaft carried member, and having' the circular opening. therethrough flaring at one end portion thereof, a split conical frictioning sleeve, non'rotative ly engaged with the shaft, and

. engaging in the flaring opening in the annularmember,a non-rotative ring encircling said annular member andrelatively to which the latter may rotate freely ina forward direction, and'means for preventing a rotation of s'uchmember backward relatively to said ring, and a crank having atits hub an internal'collar located between and with its opposite faces in proximity to-the aforemen a set of cam shaped teeth in' opposition to and facing those of the shaft part of the said annular tioned cam toothed members having a series of dogs mounted and endwise movable therein, and parallel with the axis ,thereof,=havlng their opposite ends protruding therefrom. forcoaction with the cam shaped teeth of the aforesaid opposite members.

8; In. a device of the character described, n combination, a cranking shaft having a fixed flange like partw'hich is provided on its face with a series of cam shaped teeth, an annular member spaced from said flange like'part, encircling the crankingsh aft, having a set of cam-shaped teeth on its'end face inopposition to those of the shaft provided flange like member, and said annular memher, having portions thereof of different dig .ameters whereby a shoulder is produced, a

crank having a hollow cylindrical hub enclosing a portion oftlie crankingshaft and a portion of the-length of the annular memberfand having an internal collarlocated between the aforementioned 'camtoothed members, having a series of dogs endwise movable therein, the opposite ends of which protrude beyond the end'faces of the collar for coaction withjsaid cam shaped teeth, a

flanged ring nut internally. screw engaged in theend portion'ofthehub and having an engagement withthe shoulder ofsaid an nular member, a 'non-rotative ring encircling a portion of thetan'n'ular member beyond the end of thehub and'ineans-for preventing the rotation .of the f annular wardly relatively to said ring.-.

. 9, In a'device of charactcr. described, in combination, a cranking} shaft .having a fixed flange like. part which is provided on its face with 'a seriesjfoflcam shapedteeth,

an annular member spacedfrom said flange like part, encircling the-cranking sh aft, hav

i'ng a set ,of cam. shaped teeth on its end face in opposition to those. of the shaft provided-flange like member, and said annular member having portions thereof of different .diameters whereby a shoulder is produced, a crank having a" hollow cylindrical hub inclosing aportion of the cranking shaft and aportion of the length of the annular memher, and having an internal collar located between the aforementioned cam toothed members, having a series of dogs endwise movable therein, the'opposite ends of which protrude beyond the end facesof the collar for coaction with said'cam shaped teeth, a flanged ring nut internally screw engaged in. the end portion of the hiib and having an engagement with the shoulder of said annular member, a non-rotative ring encircling a portionof the annular member beyond the end of the hub, and beyond which the extremity of the annular member protrudes,

a ring detachably'confined on the extremity of the annular member and having an. overlapping relation to the face of the non-rota tive ring, and means for preventing the romember backtation of the annular member backwardly relatively to said ring.

10. In a safety cranking device, in combination, an engine shaft having a ratchet toothed member on its end, and a fixture adjacent the end of the engine shaft, a cranking shaft endwise movable relatively to the engine shaft having its end adjacent the engine shaft ratchet toothed extremity and provided at its other end with a flange like member provided on its face with a series of cam faced teeth, an annular member encircling and in frictional engagement with the cranking shaft, and forwardly revoluble therewith, and having a set of cam shaped teeth on its end, a crank having at its hub an internal collar located between the cam toothed faces of said annular member and of said flange like shaft-carried member and provided with a. series of dogs arranged end- Wise movable parallel with its axis which have their opposite ends in coactive relations to the cam shaped teeth of the aforesaid members, a collar encircling an extremity of the said annular member which protrudes beyond the end of the hub and which has a dowel and socket engagement with the aforesaid fixture, and pawl and ratchet devices between the annular member and the last named collar for preventing backward rotative movement of the annular member. Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. BECK.

Witnesses:

G. R. DRIscoLL. WM. S. BELnoWs. 

